The French male basketball team beat Spain (75-67) Thursday in Badalone for its third preparation match and its first big test two weeks from the start of Euro-2025 (August 27-September 14).
The men of Frédéric Fauxoux, still undefeated since he took over from Vincent Collet after the 2024 Olympics, will find La Roja on Saturday evening in Bercy for a penultimate preparation match.
The Blues, who had not defeated Spain since 2014, put an end to a series of five consecutive setbacks against the reigning European champions, which they had left three years ago by a cruel defeat in the final of the Euro.
After two unfinished victories against lower teams (81-75 against Montenegro, 74-67 against Great Britain), the Blues did not reduce in front of their historic rival, despite a clumsiness in shooting (21/37 at two points and especially 5/29 with three points), compensated by a defensive discipline (26 rebounds).
In a far from full room, France was racing throughout the game apart from a few moments at the start of the match (3-4). After leading up to 13 points in the first half (43-35 at the break), the Blues had an air hole, letting Spain return to two small points. But the French, like Captain Guerschon Yabusele (12 pts, 5 rebounds) and a very good Sylvain Francisco (5 pts, 5 assists), have regained sufficient margin to win in Catalonia.
The 27-year-old leader, spared against Great Britain after being badly fell on a shoulder against Montenegro, probably scored points for the list of 12 who will fly to the Euro in Poland.
After the return match in Bercy, the Olympic vice-champions will face Greece in Athens on August 24 before starting the Euro preliminary round in Katowice (Poland) against Belgium four days later.
